Grenade and lance-grenade



Aug.'30,*1 932. I c, FQULQN 1,874,951

GRENADE Ann LANCE Gamma Filed May 12. 1931 Patented Au 30, 1932 1CHARLES FOULON, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM GRENADE Ann nation-Gunners I Thepresentinvention hasfor its object an 1 improved construction of agrenade adapted fication t'dbe firedby means ofa fire-arm, such as a ortobe thrown by means of a lancegrenade, 'both without requiring anymodi- "n the grenade itself before being used;

i The object of the inventioiiis to provide i in the improved grenade aparticular device freeing the firing-pin in two distinct movements, soas to secure COIlStIIlClZlOIlEL-l simplicity with perfect efliciency.

The. invention willbe described hereafter withmeference to theaccompanying drawing, in which a preferred form of embodimenthas beenillustrated.

i 1 is a longitudinal section of a grenade in conformity withtheinventi'on, having its 1 firing-pin locked;

Fig.2"is' a plan view of said grenade, its cap being removed and thefiring-pin being freed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the locking 1 block used in this formof embodiment of the grenade; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a somewhat modified formofembodiment of the ,grenade, in which the firing "device isarrangedoutside the grenade body.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the grenade is formed with a body 1,cast in metal, having its Wall divided into fragments by variablyarranged grooves. Inside said body is adapted the detonator 2 with itsprimer 14;. The open underside of the body 1 is closed by means of ascrewed stopper 3 forming base.

This stopper hasa flange, the diameter of whichcorresponds to the maindiameter of the body 1, said flange being provided for engagement withthe retaining hook forming part of the lance-grenade. The opposite sidei of the body 1 is covered by means of a remov- Y able cap 4 having acentral opening. 5 indiig cates a central tube adapted in the body and 2stopper and constituting the passage for the g bullet fired by a gunorthe stem of the lanceprovided for the double intentionofconstigrenade. A ball 6 is freelylodged in a circular hole of the wallof the tube 5 and pressed therein by the locking block 7, the

Application filejd May 12, 1931, Serial 110,536,817, and 11; Belgium May20, 1930.

end face of which has a recess in which the ball is engaged. A U-spring12 acts to hold. the ball in position, said spring being fixed with oneleg in the upper side wall of the body 1.

Then a bullet or said stem passes through the channel 5, the ball 6 willbe radially shifted, as said ball partially obstructs the passage andthis radial movement of the ball will shift the locking element? ofparticular shape against the action of spring 12, so as to' free a lever8 forming part of the swinging firing pin 9, said lever being previouslyretained in the indentation 10 of the element 7. l The .freed lever willthenabut against the projection 11 of the block 7. The bullet havinggrenade, the U-shaped spring 12 drives the locking element 7 in itsoriginal position, so that the firing-pin 9 is completely freed and,under the action of the two helical springs 13l3, said firing-pin willthen swing and strike the primer 14, which will ignite the detonator 2of bent formation. 'The two springs 1313 are engaged by a pin 15, whichconstitutes the pivot pin for the firing-needle 9. The ends of the pivotpin 15 are journalled in upstanding lugs 16 and pass through theguidingfslide l7,'which holds the looking element 7.

Asgillustrated in ig. 3, the locking element 7 is providedwithnotches'18 and 19, engagingand holding the U spring 12 and has anL-shaped notch 10, opposite to the ball 6 and over which extends theprojection 11. Referring'toFig. 4,.the grenade body 1 is of cylindricalshape withthe inner wall divided into fragments. fragments will bepreferably of triangular formation for having a maximum of sharp angleformation. The cylindrical shape is preferred to allow the grenade to beloaded with a cast mass of explosive, so as to simplify manipulation andavoid loss ofexplosive material, and reduce eventual accidents. Theouter wall of the grenade has wings 40 tuting guide means for thegrenade when fired by meansof a gun muzzle attachment This division.into and to force the grenade in a normal position on its trajectory.Furthermore, said Wings Will impart to the grenade a rotary motion. n

The stopper forming bottom is provided With an annular groove 41 to beengaged by the retaining hook of the lance-grenade. The

' inner Wall of the stopper has a circular groove 4L2for'lodging-incendiary or other products.

The firing mechanism is modified soasto remain completely outside thegrenade::body-' and is lodged completely under the cap 4,;

except the detonator support 43, yvhich engages the explosive mass. Theprimer sup port 48 is also arranged for-securing afuse atthe moment whenthe grenade Will bewused.

' Said'support comprises a tube49 surround ed by'a sleeve 50. 'Thetubeis-closed by a stopper 51 in-Which is adapted the primer 52, The fuseWill be preferably made by means of an explosive cast in lead so as tobe perfectly preserved The lead being malleable,the

fuse can be shaped in any conformation according to the requirements.

One'end 53 of the fuse is connected to'the detonator, the'other endremaining free until the moment when it 'Will be connected to theprimenj The 'i usebears graduations, so that it can be adjusted inlength with respect to the distancefiyherethe grenade has to burst.

, Thedetonatorfi l is connected to the other end ofthe'fuse engaging thetube l8. This latter tube is "closedby means of a screw stopper having acentral opening corresponding to the diameter of the fuse Which allowsthe,

passage ofsai'd fuse, so that it can be int roi 7' of the'bullet orlance-grenade to engage said tube for the purpose set forth. i

3. Ina grenade of the type described, a firing mechanism comprising: asprin controlled firing-pin, a lever holding the firingpin in theinoperative position against the action of said spring, a springcontrolled sliding block having 'ai'pa'ir of abutments engaged by theaforesaid'lever in timed relation, a tube passing throughout the grenadebody,

-bal-l partially obstructing the passage through an opening in the tube,said ball being heldin' the opening by the spring controlled lockingblock, the section of the tube 7 corresponding to-that 'of'the bullet orlancegrenade toengage said tube for the purpose jfo ft "i c 4:. A"grenade, comprising a f-cylindrical body, a screwed stopper forming base, a circular flange to said base, ings outside the cylindrical body,variably" arranged grooves dividing the inner-Wall of the body I intofragments, a c rcular groove 1n the nner side of the stopper, anaxialtube passing throughout the body, a detonator fixed inside to theupper end Wallof said body, aprimer support fixed outside saidend'vvall, a fuse 7 connecting the primer support andthe detonator,aspring control led firing-pin pivoted outside to said end wall and meansfor locking the firing-pin in the ink'aperative' position. .1 ,l

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duced in the primer support. ,All the firing grenade body. The otheractive elements constituting said mechanism are the same means forthegrenade aresituated outside the as thos ;1; scribed ith reference toFigs. I p I 1Z0 3, I claim; a v 1. In a grenade or the type'described, a

firing mechanism comprising: a spring controlled firing-pin, a leverholding the'firingpin the inoperative position against the action ofsaid spring, aspring controlledlockingelementfor said lever, means forreleasing the locking'element, the arrangement being such that therelease of the locking element set forth. 3 i

2. In a grenade of the type described,

-* firing mechanism. comprising: a spring con is operatedin two phases,substantially as.

trolledffiri ng-pin, a lever holding the firingi V pin in theinoperative position against the;

action of said spring, a-springcontrolled locking element for saidlever, atube passing 7 throughout the grenade body, a ball partially chi is n th -pas g hr ugh an openin in-the tube said b,a1l being held inthe openi sb w ari -c tr led o in l m t, he i eeiieee fth tubs w mponine that

